Document Page: FROM OUR READERS: LETHAL FORCE, LASTING QUESTIONS

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FROM OUR READERS: LETHAL FORCE, LASTING QUESTIONS Detroit Free Press; Detroit, Mich. 05-18-2000 FROM OUR READERS: LETHAL FORCE, LASTING QUESTIONS Edition: METRO FINAL Section: EDITORIAL Type: Editorial TELL PUBLIC ABOUT POLICE COURAGE I was appalled at the disingenuous series of articles printed during National Police Week by the Detroit papers. While the paper of the second largest city in Michigan, the Grand Rapids Press, published front-page color pictures and stories honoring their fallen police officers, the Free Press gave us a series about police shootings. It never ceases to amaze me how you Monday-morning quarterback reporters and editors so cavalierly criticize the professional actions of police officers who must decide in split seconds whether to discharge their weapon. While the papers were attacking members of Detroit's finest -- the same officers who every day risk their lives to protect and serve the people of our great community -- flags across America were being flown at half- staff in honor of the more than 14,000 police officers killed in the line of duty. In Washington, D.C., a large contingent of Detroit's finest were attending memorial ceremonies while the name of one of our own was being added to the wall of honor where 208 other Detroit police officers' names are engraved. The name of Officer Richard Daniel Scalf, code name Termite, was inscribed on

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Document Page: FROM OUR READERS: LETHAL FORCE, LASTING QUESTIONS

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the wall this year. Scalf was gunned down in a vice sting operation on Feb. 5, 1999. He was 26 years of age. His name joins Officer Shawn Bandy, who was shot on Dec. 5, 1998, and died in the hospital the next day from wounds to his head and body. Bandy was 23 years old and a 4-year veteran of the department. In death there is valor, but it appears your papers are trying to strip that away. What about the grieving parents, spouses, children and family members of these officers? Again, your papers' attitude is out of sight, out of mind. Where are the stories about the countless number of police officers injured and permanently maimed? What mention or follow-up articles has your paper done on these officers of the law? Officers who will never lead the lives they did before they were shot by criminals. Officers who now can't see out of both eyes, who can't use the bathroom without help, who can't play ball with their children, who can't ever walk again because they are sentenced to life in a wheelchair, because they vowed to do their job -- to protect the citizens of this city. Where are their million-dollar jury awards? Of course there are none. These officers are expected to take a bullet for the system. Detroit ranks fourth in the nation in police officers killed on the job. Only the New York, Chicago and Philadelphia police departments have reported more police officers killed in the line of duty. In a report recently released by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Detroit is averaging over two police officers killed in the line of duty each year for the last 100 years! The fear and sacrifice of being a spouse or family member of a Detroit police officer are as great today as they have ever been. Our occupation is one of the most dangerous jobs in America.
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Document Page: FROM OUR READERS: LETHAL FORCE, LASTING QUESTIONS

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The Detroit police officers get the job done to the best of their ability, truly earning the title of "Detroit's Finest." A line from the Gospel according to Matthew is apropos: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." Marty Bandemer President Detroit Police Officers Association Heads in the sand Your article "Detroit cops are deadliest in U.S.; shooting figures need context, officials say" is old news for many Detroiters. What the Detroit Free Press discovered about the Detroit Police Department is something Detroit citizens have known for years. Unfortunately, many Detroiters must be killed or seriously injured before the media expose what we have been experiencing for years. Also consistent with what Detroiters have always known is the continuation of excuses by Detroit Police Chief Benny Napoleon, who has no idea or plan to lead the Detroit Police Department out of this deadly morass. I believe Napoleon is correct in defending his department. In this case, however, he is wrong in defending the amount of deadly force used under his leadership. Based on his comments in the article, he has his head in the sand and will do nothing to correct this deadly, injurious and costly situation but defend police practices. Bob Parrott

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Detroit Too much power I am glad to see someone has finally realized how bad the law enforcement community is in the city of Detroit. As a victim of its violence, I must agree with the points in your article. They are a bunch of thugs with badges. Is it appropriate for grown men to beat teenage men? If a young man does something wrong, wouldn't it be their job to arrest him, take him to the station and book him for his offenses? Instead, they prefer to take that young man to a secluded spot and beat that young man. Who are they to beat on us? They play cop, judge and executioner. They have too much power and not enough sense to do what is right. Timothy Cournoyer Detroit No hope for cure The recent press coverage and findings on the lethal actions of the Detroit police are not revealing or remarkable. Our criminal justice system has been in a meltdown for quite some time, not only at the local level but the federal level as well. From the LAPD to the NYPD to the FBI, the behavior of those in our criminal justice system is so perverse it is now the norm. The public has relinquished its oversight responsibilities, because many in the public have no problems with police killings, especially when the victims are people of color. Police efforts in apprehending felons increase only when a cop is the victim. Judges, prosecutors and jurors are as culpable as the perpetrators of criminal acts, because they administrate justice with an

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assembly-line mentality. Greg Thrasher West Bloomfield No protests? Where is Jesse Jackson? Where is Al Sharpton? The city of Detroit has the highest number of fatal police shootings per capita in the nation. Why are they not demonstrating and calling for Justice Department investigations in Detroit, as they did in New York City? Perhaps if Mayor Dennis Archer were a Republican they would be interested in exposing this very disturbing problem. Christopher McNeil Clinton Township ILLUSTRATION: Drawing TIM BRINTON/Special to the Free Press DISCLAIMER: THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THE PRINTED ARTICLE. Copyright 2000 - Detroit Free Press - All Rights Reverved

Citation for your reference:

"FROM OUR READERS: LETHAL FORCE, LASTING QUESTIONS." Detroit Free Press; Detroit, Mich.. 18 May. 2000: A14. eLibrary. Web. 11 Aug. 2013.

"FROM OUR READERS: LETHAL FORCE, LASTING QUESTIONS." Detroit Free Press; Detroit, Mich.. 2000, May 18: A14.

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